Wrench

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a wrench and, more particularly, to a tool for turning a nut or the like and including a plurality of clamping fingers or jaws.

United States Patent LaPointe 4 1 March 6, 1973 I 1 WRENCH [75] GabrielM. LaPointe, Worcester,

Mass.

Inventor:

[73] Assignee: Parker Mfg. Company, Worcester,

Mass.

Filed: Oct. 22, 1970 Appl. No.: 83,264

US. Cl. ..81/116, 279/38, 279/58 Int. Cl. ..B25b 13/32 Field ofSearch..81/112, 113,114,115, 116; 279/1 R, 1 Q, 35, 37, 38, 57, 58,106,108;294/115, 116

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Pryor ..294/116 x 12/1928O'Flaherty ..279/108 X 4/1966 Rohm ....279/l R FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 56,426 4/1924 Sweden ..81/112 484,888 10/1929 GermanyPrimary Examiner-Othell M. Simpson Attorney-Norman S. Blodgett [57]ABSTRACT This invention relates to a wrench and, more particularly, to atool for turning a nut or the like and including a plurality of clampingfingers or jaws.

2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHAR 61m SHEET 10F 2 GABRIEL M.LAPO/NTE INVENTOR.

PATEHTED 6 975 SHEET 2 OF 2 WRENCH BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In theassembly and dis-assembly of machine parts, there are many occasionswhen it is impossible to turn a nut or the like with a conventionalwrench. Although an end socket wrench will serve this function, aseparate socket is necessary to serve each of a range of nut sizes. Inthe past, a multi-fingered device has been provided, wherein the fingerscan be moved inwardly by the sliding of a sleeve to clamp any one of alarge number of nut sizes. However, although the fingers adjustadequately, they are not capable of clamping the nut tightly enough topermit large torque transmittal. These and other difficultiesexperienced with the prior art devices have been obviated in a novelmanner by the present invention.

It is, therefore, an outstanding object of the invention to provide awrench capable of grasping a variety of sizes of polygonal elements.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a wrench for nutsand the like which is capable of a double clamping action, i.e., a firstadjustment for size and light pressure and a second giving heavypressure.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a nutwrench capable of high torque transmittal.

It is another object of the instant invention to provide a nut wrenchwhich is simple and inexpensive in construction, which is easy to use,and which is capable of a long life of useful service with a minimum ofcare.

With these and other objects in view, as will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art, the invention resides in the combination of partsset forth in the specification and covered by the claims appendedhereto.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In general, the invention consists of a wrenchhaving a handle with an elongated shank, a plurality of fingers or jawspivotally mounted at the end of the shank, and a sleeve slidably mountedon the end of the shank and enveloping a portion of the jaws. Thesliding motion of the sleeve relative to the shank causes a primaryinward movement of the jaws and means is provided whereby a relativerotary movement between the sleeve and the handle produces a secondaryinward movement of the aws.

More specifically, the means includes a cam surface formed on thesurface of a secondary sleeve mounted on the shank. The jaws are six innumber. The shank has a block or cone cylinder mounted on its end, whichblock has an axially-directed cone lying between the fingers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The character of the invention,however, may be best understood by reference to one of its structuralforms, as illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a wrench embodying the principlesof the present invention,

FIG. 2 is an end view of the invention,

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the invention taken on theline III-III of FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the invention taken on the line IV-IV ofFIG. 3, and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the invention taken on the line V-V ofFlG.3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. 11 and 2 ofthe drawings, the wrench, indicated generally by the reference numeral10, is shown as having a handle 11 from which extends a shank 12. Sixfingers or jaws 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18 extend longitudinally of theshank and are pivotally mounted at the end thereof away from the handle11. A sleeve 19 is slidably mounted on the end of the shank andenvelopes a major portion of the jaws. The sliding movement of thesleeve operates on the jaws to cause a primary inward movement. Thesleeve is provided at its outer end with a semi-closed end 21 whichserves to guide the jaws.

Referring to FIG. 3, forming part of the end of the shank is a member 22having an axially-directed cone 23 that lies between the inner ends ofthe fingers. A coil spring 24 extends between a shoulder 25 on eachfinger and the cone 23. A lug 26 extends from each finger through asuitable aperture in the sleeve 19.

A tubular secondary sleeve 27 lies between the sleeve 19 and the shank12 and is slidable relative to the shank. A knurled flange 30 extendsradially from the sleeve. A peg 28 extends transversely from the shankandengages an axial cam surface 29 formed on the end of the sleeve 27.Means is provided to lock the sleeve 27 against rotative and axialmotion relative to the sleeve 19. This means consists of a cylindricaldetent 31 slidable in a radial bore 32 formed in the secondary sleeve 27and having a reduced neck 32 which resides in an aperture 33 in theprimary sleeve 19. A copper washer 34 resides in the bottom of the bore32, while a spring 35 extends between the washer and the detent.

FIG. 4 shows the manner in which the finger 13 is constructed; it isrepresentative of the rest of the fingers. The inner edge is providedwith bevels 36 which permit the fingers to cluster closely and operativeon even small nuts and bolts.

FIG. 5 shows the manner in which the secondary sleeve 27 is providedwith a radial bore 37 in which a spool-shaped plunger 38 resides. Theplunger is formed of an elastomer plastic so that it is capable of beingcompresses in the radial direction and engaging both the shaft 12 andthe sleeve 19 with considerable braking friction.

The operation of the invention will now be readily understood in thelight of the above description. A right-handed person holds the wrenchwith the handle 1 1 in his right hand, while he grasps the sleeve 19 inhis left hand. The fingers or jaws 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18 are placedover a hexagonal nut with one jaw on each alternate face. As the fingersare placed over the nut, the handle Y11 and shank 12 are pushed throughthe sleeve 19. This means that the cone 23 moves forward through thesleeve 19. The jaws, however, remain behind with the sleeve 19, so thatthe forward surface of the cone moves along the curved inner endsurfaces of the jaws. This causes an inward movement of the outer endsof the jaws and causes them to clamp on the surfaces of the nut that isto be turned. Then, the handle 11 is rotated to turn the nut the desireddirection; this would be clockwise for a nut with a right-hand thread.Now, when the handle is turned, the sleeve 19 (as well as the jaws) areheld against rotation. This makes the cam surface 29 slide over the pin28 which moves the shaft 12 axially so that the cone engages the jaws toforce them inwardly to clamp the nut even more tightly. In other words,the rotation of the handle to transmit torque to the nut results in thejaws clamping the nut with even greater force. Furthermore, the greaterthe turning couple placed on the handle, the greater the clamping forceon the nut.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form andconstruction of the invention without departing from the material spiritthereof. It is not, however, desired to confine the invention to theexact form herein shown and described, but it is desired to include allsuch as properly come within the scope claimed.

The invention having been thus described, what is claimed as new anddesired to secure by Letters Patent 1. A wrench, comprising a. a handlehaving an elongated shank,

b. a primary sleeve slidably mounted on the shank,

c. a plurality of jaws pivotally mounted in the sleeve,

d. a cone mounted on the end of the shank and operative when relativeaxial movement takes place between the shank and the sleeve to cause aprimary inward movement of the jaws when the shaft moves toward thejaws, and

e. a secondary sleeve mounted in the primary sleeve and having a camsurface that engages a portion of the shank to bring about a secondaryinward movement of the jaws when relative rotary movement takes placebetween the shank and the sleeves.

2. A wrench comprising:

a. a handle having an elongated shank, the shank having a taperedforward surface at the end thereof b. a plurality of jaws pivotallymounted adjacent said forward surface,

c. a sleeve slidably mounted on the end of the shank and enveloping aportion of the jaws, sliding movement of the sleeve relative to theshank causing a primary inward movement of the jaws, and

d. means operative upon relative rotation of the sleeve and shank toproduce a secondary inward movement of the jaws, the means including acam surface associated with the shank, the cam surface being formed on asecondary sleeve mounted to the said end of the shank.

1. A wrenCh, comprising a. a handle having an elongated shank, b. aprimary sleeve slidably mounted on the shank, c. a plurality of jawspivotally mounted in the sleeve, d. a cone mounted on the end of theshank and operative when relative axial movement takes place between theshank and the sleeve to cause a primary inward movement of the jaws whenthe shaft moves toward the jaws, and e. a secondary sleeve mounted inthe primary sleeve and having a cam surface that engages a portion ofthe shank to bring about a secondary inward movement of the jaws whenrelative rotary movement takes place between the shank and thesleeves.
 1. A wrenCh, comprising a. a handle having an elongated shank,b. a primary sleeve slidably mounted on the shank, c. a plurality ofjaws pivotally mounted in the sleeve, d. a cone mounted on the end ofthe shank and operative when relative axial movement takes place betweenthe shank and the sleeve to cause a primary inward movement of the jawswhen the shaft moves toward the jaws, and e. a secondary sleeve mountedin the primary sleeve and having a cam surface that engages a portion ofthe shank to bring about a secondary inward movement of the jaws whenrelative rotary movement takes place between the shank and the sleeves.